NCAA Tournament Expert Picks: Sweet 16 Predictions

NCAA Tournament predictions, college basketball expert picks for the third round Sweet 16 games.

NCAA Tournament predictions, college basketball expert picks for the third round Sweet 16 games.


[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: Saturday, March 27

(8) Loyola vs (12) Oregon State

Midwest Region: Sweet 16
2:40 pm ET, CBS
Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Line: Loyola -6.5, o/u: 125.5
Bet on college basketball with BetMGM

Jeff Feyerer, CFN: Loyola*
Pete Fiutak, CFN: Loyola*
Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire: Loyola*
Jeremy Mauss, MW Wire: Loyola
Big Game Ben Niewoehner, CFN: Loyola*
Kegan Reneau, Sooners Wire Loyola*
Nick Shepkowski, Fighting Irish Wire: Loyola*
Scott Steehn, WinnersandWhiners: Loyola
Keith Stewart, WinnersandWhiners: Loyola
Brian Stultz, Auburn Wire: Loyola
Clucko the Chicken, CFN: Oregon State
CONSENSUS PICK: Loyola*


(1) Baylor vs (5) Villanova

South Region: Sweet 16
5:15 pm ET, CBS
Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Line: Baylor -6.5, o/u: 140.5
Bet on college basketball with BetMGM

Jeff Feyerer, CFN: Baylor
Pete Fiutak, CFN: Baylor
Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire: Baylor
Jeremy Mauss, MW Wire: Baylor
Big Game Ben Niewoehner, CFN: Baylor
Kegan Reneau, Sooners Wire Baylor
Nick Shepkowski, Fighting Irish Wire: Baylor
Scott Steehn, WinnersandWhiners: Baylor
Keith Stewart, WinnersandWhiners: Baylor
Brian Stultz, Auburn Wire: Baylor
Clucko the Chicken, CFN: Villanova
CONSENSUS PICK: Baylor

Loyola vs Oregon St | Baylor vs Villanova
Ark vs Oral Roberts | Houston vs Syracuse
Michigan vs FSU | Gonzaga vs Creighton
Bama vs UCLA | USC vs Oregon

NEXT: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: Arkansas vs Oral Roberts, Houston vs Syracuse

Gonzaga vs Creighton Prediction, Game Preview: NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: (1) Gonzaga (28-0) vs (5) Creighton (22-8) prediction and college basketball game preview.

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16: (1) Gonzaga (28-0) vs (5) Creighton (22-8) prediction and college basketball game preview.


Gonzaga vs Creighton Broadcast

Date: Sunday, March 28
Game Time: 2:10 pm ET
Venue: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Network: CBS

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Gonzaga vs Creighton Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college basketball, go to BetMGM


Why Creighton Will Win

Oklahoma had the right idea.

There was no ball control or tempo stall against Gonzaga. The only way to get this team is to bomb away, keep bombing, and hope the offense can keep up.

Yes, Creighton is one missed UC Santa Barbara layup away from being bounced in the first round. Yes, it caught the break of a free-space second round matchup against Ohio.

But when this team is on from three – it was seventh in the nation in total threes, it makes almost ten per game, and it’s solid enough at getting out on the outside shooters to keep Gonzaga from taking target practice.

It’s not like the Oklahoma offense didn’t work. The Sooners made 50% from the field, but they kept putting Gonzaga on the line and couldn’t battle back after a late first half run.

2021 NCAA Tournament Schedule, Predictions

Why Gonzaga Will Win

Creighton is fine offensively, but it’s not Gonzaga, and it doesn’t do everything right.

To beat this team there can never, ever be a wasted opportunity for points, and Creighton is stunningly mediocre from the free throw line. 64% isn’t going to get it done – the Bluejays have to get to the line at least 15 times and make almost all of them. That’s not going to happen.

But it’s probably not going to come down to that. Gonzaga took Oklahoma’s best shot early, got the inside game going with Drew Timme, the threes opened up, and it was over.

There are way too many offensive options, the team moves it around too well, and there’s absolutely zero panic whatsoever. Even if Creighton hits three threes in a run – yawn. Gonzaga knows the answer is coming soon after.

What’s Going To Happen

Oklahoma had the right makeup to at least have a shot against Gonzaga, and it lost by 16.

To do this, it’s going to take Gonzaga being collectively off like it was against BYU late in the season. Eventually the avalanche came, but at least it was in for a fight.

Creighton can absolutely go off. It has the capability to hit the 13+ threes to stay in it until late, but even if that happens, it’s not hitting the free throws to get this done.

Follow us @ColFootballNews

Gonzaga vs Creighton Prediction, Line

Gonzaga 87, Creighton 72
Bet on college basketball with BetMGM
Line: Gonzaga -13.5, o/u: 158.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 3.5

5: Godzilla
1: Kong

Oops & Helmets: 25 Worst Football & Basketball Schools 2020-2021

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]